Did You Miss This Game Release? You Might Regret It
'The Alters' by 11 bit studios. Some quick insights and why you should definitely take a look.
You probably haven’t heard of what I think is maybe one of the best games so far this year, or have you?
About a week ago, 11 bit studios released a new game called The Alters. But it seems as if not enough players took notice. Maybe because Dune: Awakening was released around that time, and others are still focused on the Switch 2?
I discovered The Alters by accident after it showed up on Game Pass on release day, and immediately fell in love with it, although I am not into typical survival-crafting games.
📅 Released: June 13, 2025
📄 Genre: Sci‑Fi / Survival / Base‑Building
🎮 Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
🏷️ Price: $34.99, included in Game Pass
🗨️ Metacritic Score: 84
🔗 Steam Reviews: Very Positive
📖 Publisher & Developer: 11 bit studios
✌️ I play it on: my Xbox Series X
Many players are loving it and agree it hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves.
In a nutshell: To survive on the planet, you create alternate versions of Jan, called “Alters,” each with unique skills. You build, craft, gather resources, and try to escape before the rising sun ends it all.
Here is the kicker: Via a quantum computer in your mobile base, you select from your own life a key moment with a certain decision. Now, with your new decision made, you create a version of yourself with a different life path and a totally different career, skill set, and so on.
These ‘clones’ you created will join your crew, and they are essential for your survival and solving tasks.
Still not sure what the game is about and if it’s for you? Check out my overview:
Sci-fi setting on a distant planet
You’re stranded and must survive
Manage your mobile base and gather resources
Craft tools, upgrades, and essential survival gear
Create and manage alternate versions of yourself (“Alters”)
Each Alter has unique skills and memories
No combat, it’s about survival and smart decisions
Make meaningful choices with emotional consequences
Story-driven, character-focused experience
Slow-paced but full of tension and exploration
There’s time pressure, but it doesn’t feel stressful
Essentially, it’s a mix of survival, base-building, and emotional storytelling. And while it looks like a sci-fi game on the surface, it’s also about identity, regret, and the question: what if you had made a different decision in your life?
The emotional part is so intriguing. When you talk to your alternates, they might show negative emotions, which makes you immediately think: ‘How can I make him happy? I need him for …. soon ….”.
The Studio
11 bit studios is a Polish indie game developer. So far, they have developed and published:
This War of Mine
Frostpunk
Both are games with emotional stories and some tough moral choices you have to make. They had a huge success with them and showed how video games can deal with serious topics. Personally, I haven’t played Frostpunk, but This War of Mine is still one of my favorite smaller titles.
They make everything in-house, without outsourcing, so they can keep full control over quality and story. 11 bit games deal with topics such as survival, hard decisions, and how people react under pressure.
The Alters started as a small idea from game director Tomasz Kisilewicz and a few team members. They even made a board game version first to test the concept. Over time, it grew into a full game with a much bigger team.
All the different versions of the main character, Jan, are voiced by one actor: Alex Jordan. That adds a personal, emotional touch to the story.
Once again, 11 bit showed that an AA title from a smaller team can be a much better game than those super AAA titles from big studios with at least one hundred people working on it.
Someone recently wrote: “The Alters Just Humiliated the AAA Industry”.
Please share this newsletter/post so games like this get more attention. They deserve it!
Thanks for reading and keep playing,
Michael